Buckle structure



m 7, 1956 A: STEINBERG 2,757,,427

BUCKLE STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 28, 1952 I N V EN TOR.

2,757,427 Patented Aug. 7, 1956 BUCKLE STRUCTURE Adalberto Steinberg, Milan, taly Application October 28, 1952, Serial No. 317,179 Claims. (Cl. 24-178) This invention relates to buckle structures, in particular for use in connection with belts, shoes, watch straps and like articles.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide means overcoming deficiencies generally observed which result from the projection of the sharp end of the buckle tongue beyond the buckle frame with which said tongue is swivelly connected.

If is another object of the present invention to provide means enabling accommodation of said end of the buckle tongue on the buckle frame to thereby avoid contact of the sharp tongue end with clothing, stockings, etc. during use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means affording continuous and inexpensive manufacture of buckle and buckle tongue by stamping and folding from a fiat stock of material.

It is still another object of the invention to provide means facilitating shaping of buckle structures with smooth outer surface and without protruding edges or parts.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide means conducive to an aesthetic appearance and simplified and effective construction of buckles for above-named and other articles.

These and other objects and features of the invention Will become more apparent from the following detailed description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a buckleframe made according to the invention and shown immediately after a stamping operation;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1 after the buckle frame;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the buckle of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional View through the buckle of Fig. 2 taken along 4-4 thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawing and to Fig. 1, the buckle according to the invention has a buckle frame 11, a cross-bar 11a intermediate the ends of the frame, and end bars 12 and 13 enclosing a small opening -15a, and two larger openings 17 and 20. End bar 12 includes a flap portion 14 and preferably said small opening consisting of elliptical opening portions 15, 15a

The buckle frame 11 is manufactured from flat stock or strip material S (brass, sheet metal, etc.) in one stamping or punching operation, and flap 14 is then folded about axis 14a under end bar 12, so that the latter is substantially U-shaped in cross-section (Fig. 4) and is reinforced at opening portion 15a which is positioned as shown in Fig. 2. The tongue 16 when mounted on cross-bar 11a, as shown in Fig. 2, may be swung around the latter; and the sharp end or tip 16a thereof will be accommodated in opening 15, 15a so that the of the buckle similar to that tongue is applied to the buckle tongue end is held or retained in said opening or recess below the upper surface 12a of cross-bar 12.

Referring to Fig. 3, the buckle frame may be pressed into concave shape, end bar 13 being bent out of the plane as shown at edge 19.

In use, the opening portion 15 within end bar 12 provides a seat for the end or tip 16a of tongue 16, and the curved part of said end bar provides a smooth outer surface without any protruding edges, whereby the device, When used in conjunction with bracelet straps, shoe straps, belts and like articles, does not injure any objects (clothing, stockings, etc.) with which the buckle may be brought in contact. Obviously, end bar 13 may be omitted and the strap (not shown) may be mounted directly on crossbar 11a.

It is well understood that the aforesaid punching operation may be performed continuously and along said strip of material S in a very economical manner, since flap portion 14 extends within the space between cross-bar 11a and end bar 12. If desired, the tongue 16 may be simultaneously stamped or punched out of the strip when the buckle frame 11 is manufactured.

The buckle herein referred to in its simplest form has a smaller opening 1515a and a larger opening 20 which may be readily punched out of the strip material whereby also the flap 14 may be shaped or cut. The smaller one of said openings has two wall portions, a first wall portion defining the opening portion 15a extending into flap 14, and a second wall portion defining opening portion 15 extending into the end bar 12, a part of the buckle frame 11. The aforesaid first wall portion is transferred into a position in which said first wall portion forms an angle, preferably a substantially right angle, with the aforesaid second wall portion, whereby a substantially U-shaped unit is formed. The folding operation is performed about an axis 14a passing substantially intermediate said first wall portion and said second wall portion and interconnecting the lateral ends of said flap 14. Thus, a seat is obtained for the buckle tongue end 16a as clearly depicted in Fig. 4.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been described and shown in the drawing, it should be noted that the invention may be realized in modified form and adaptations of the arrangements herein disclosed may be made as may readily occur to persons skilled in the art without constituting a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the objects and in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

l. A buckle for belts and like articles comprising a frame having a cross-bar for receiving thereon the tongue of the buckle, and an end bar on said frame and provided with an opening, said end bar being U-shaped in cross section and including a flap underlying said opening to thereby form a seat for the pointed end of said tongue, said tongue end being recessed with respect to the surface of said end bar when said tongue end is received on said seat, said flap forming an integral part of said end bar and being folded under said end bar with the bend of said flap located facing said crossbar.

2. The process of manufacturing a buckle frame for belts and like articles from substantially fiat strip material comprising the steps of punching two spaced openings of dilferent sizes out of said strip material to thereby obtain said buckle frame including a cross-bar and an end bar, and simultaneously cutting out of said material a flap positioned between said two openings and connected to said end bar, whereby a first portion of the wall defining the smaller one of said openings forms a part of the flap, whereas a second portion of said wall defines the remainder of said smaller opening and forms a part of said end bar, folding said fiap underneath said end bar about an axis passing substantially intermediate said first and second wall portions to thereby transfer said first wall portion to a position angularly related to said second wall portion, whereby a seat is obtained in said smaller opening to accommodate thereon the point of a tongue when extending from said crossbar.

3. The process of manufacturing a buckle frame for belts and like articles from substantially fiat strip material comprising the steps of punching two spaced openings of different sizes out of said strip material to thereby obtain said buckle frame including a cross-bar and an end bar, and simultaneously cutting out of said material a flap positioned between said two openings and connected to said end bar, whereby a first portion of the wall defining the smaller one of said openings forms a part of the flap, whereas a second portion of said wall defines the remainder of said smaller opening and forms a part of said end bar, folding said flap with respect to said end bar about an axis passing substantially intermediate said first and second wall portions to thereby arrange said end bar and said flap in superposed position, whereby a seat is obtained in said smaller opening to accommodate thereon the point of a tongue when extending from said crossbar.

4. A buckle for use with belts and like articles comprising a frame having a cross-bar for swingably retaining thereon a buckle tongue having an end, and an end bar provided with a flap integral with the same, said flap having a centrally located opening extending partly into said end bar and being bent with respect to said end bar to form a U-shaped unit, the opening of said flap and an adjacent portion of said end bar forming a seat for the end of said tongue, whereby said tongue end when located in said seat extends in a plane below the top surface of said frame.

5. A buckle for use with belts and like articles comprising a tongue having a tip, a buckle frame having a top surface and further a crossbar for swingably retaining thereon said tongue, and end bars located at either side of and spaced from said crossbar, one of said end bars being provided with a flap integral with the same and extending toward said crossbar, said flap having an opening located centrally of said flap and extending partly into said one end bar, said flap being bent with respect I to said one end bar to form therewith a U-shaped unit,

the opening in said flap and an adjacent portion of said end bar forming a seat for receiving said tip of said tongue, whereby said tongue tip when located in said seat extends in a plane below said top surface of said buckle frame, the other end bar and said crossbar defining an opening therebetween considerably larger than said centrally located opening.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,448,993 Dahlgren Mar. 20, 1923 1,666,528 Dahlgren Apr. 17, 1928 1,882,369 Russell Oct. 11, 1932 2,166,903 Freysinger July 18, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 3,413 Great Britain of 1869 

